Inner Demon

Looks a tight one Hannebery v Trengove at this stage for mine.

I'd probably give put my money on Hannebery if it was voted today. While JT's arguably been a little more consistent, Hannebery's probably had a couple more big games where he's had a real influence on the contest that might give him the edge in a competition where whoever springs to mind the most is going to get the votes.

He's behind a list of players.

Jarrad Grant

Ben Nason

Taylor Hunt

to name a few.

Hard to see this award being taken off Dan Hanneberry at this point. Pretty sure the Naitanui hype machine ran out of steam a few weeks ago when it became apparent the single figure possession games weren't "off days" but just the limit of his capabilities.

According to Jesse Hogan from The Age, Newton has come off our Senior List due to Luke Tapscott's return from the Long Term Injury List.

There will be no Michael Newton return.

Rejoice.

Grimes 2-3.

In: Bail, Jurrah, Sylvia

Out: Grimes (inj.), Bartam, Spencer

I've really liked Barty this year, but he's fallen away the last couple of weeks, hasn't really performed signifiant shut down roles or impacted upon the game. He doesn't deserve a spot ahead of those incoming.

Wow, I just don't know about Spencer... I appreciate he's young, inexperienced, etc. But he appears to have next to no hand-eye coordination. You can't coach that and it doesn't come with experience. Yes, our ruck stocks are thin, but is this the best we can do? I don't think PJ is the answer, Stef Martin has a lot of work to do and Gawn is a couple of years away but perhaps we have to go to the trade well for another ruck. North have more than they know what to do with. I'd take any one of McIntosh, Petrie, Hale & Goldstein in a heartbeat.

Joel Macdonald is out of his depth.

Has been amongst our best in first half.

The evidence of both McKenzie & Spencer playing today with only Petterd on LTI answers the question.

He is a rookie and played early in the year as Luke Tapscott was on the LTI list. ATM Michael is not a promoted or nominated rookie and is unavailable for selection for MFC. My guess is that they will try and find a way of promoting him prior to year's end.

You're guessing the football department will somehow give a senior listed player a long term injury in order to give Michael Newton a game??

There's one or two problems with that.

Just to short circuit the 'pick Newton' discussion circling all week. Newton isn't eligible to be selected for MFC. McKenzie is our nominated rookie for the 2nd half of the season and Spencer has occupied the spot with Petterd on LTI list.

Regarding the debate on the merits of retaining Newton on the rookie list, I doubt he would agree to be retained as a rookie for a 2nd year. From my perspective, he is playing for his career over the next few months, and that career is unlikely to be with Melbourne. Here are the Michael Newton options after this season:

1) Agree to be retained for another year as a rookie

2) Be promoted to the MFC senior list

3) Enter the draft in a bid to revive career elsewhere

I know which of those I see as the most likely.

I missed the first quarter but saw the rest and came home feeling pretty happy. Firstly I was furious that Sylvia has been made to come back through casey and IMO he showed that my feelings were more than justified. That his return was pushed back a week because casey had a bye, makes it even stupider. I will never agree with bailey's cautious approach in these matters.

Bail - outstanding game. strong marking, reliable, excellent disposal. what a great improver he has been this year.

Newton - was close to BOG with Bail. Spent a lot of time in the ruck, and could be a handy backup for jamar. was in everything when on. has to be ahead of miller to come back into the team.

Maric - meh, geot plenty of it but disposal was very hit and miss.

Wonna - copped an injury.

Jurrah - was great. kicked 3, gave 2 off in the goalsquare, yet you can see he still has so much more improvement in him. His hands weren't quite as we know them, but that will come. His second efforts were great. I want to see him back in the red and blue and IMO he is ready.

Sylvia - the usual...goals, strong marks, smart play. should be straight back in.

Warnock - meh. hate the ball in his hands in defence even at this level. defended well.

Miller - a few strong marks and goals. was good but overshadowed by others

Morton - played mostly in defence. I don't think he is a defender but he was quite comfortable down there today.

Strauss - don't think he came back on after half time. didn't stand out prior to the ?leg injury and still needs to get more of the ball rebounding from the back 50.

Bell - didn't notice him much, but he does seem to do a lot of work in the packs which is hard to spot. Good at this level but his poor awareness was highlighted a couple of times in succession (in part due to poor handballs from teammates) where he turned straight into tackles. He got away with it both times, but I think the tackles would stick at afl level. i'd love him to make it, but...mmm.

Fitzpatrick - was thereabouts early but faded in the second half.

On a side note, Wall and McCreadie were fantastic.

I watched the first half of the seconds.

Martin - as has already been said, lots of marks in forward 50 and lots of set shot misses.

Tapscott - liked his first half. got heaps of the ball, tough in the contests (i think he was on the bottom of the first two packs of the game) but disposal was up and down. was lively in forward 50.

Blease - left me with a happy feeling inside. wow! casey seconds...but his kicking was perfect (even under intense pressure), speedy, backed himself, and i think his skills will translate well to afl level. Can't wait to see him at senior level. As mentioned, he was puffing away on the bench, and wasn't doing a lot of running off the ball, but that is to be expected given his preparation. Get excited, seriously!

I would like to see Bail, Sylvia, Jurrah, Newton and Morton in next week. However, knowing the way bailey approaches players returning from injury, i would expect Bail, Jurrah and Newton to have another weekend dominating at casey.

Thanks for the wrap-up. Two points though.

1 - It is not Bailey who makes the decisions on players coming back from injuries. It is the club doctor/s and physio/s. If you believe you know better than them, well, good luck to you.

2 - Newton is not eligible to be selected for MFC.

190cm now at 17...he'll add 3 to 5 cms to that by 20

Oh good. Well I'm glad that's settled. I hadn't previously realised that everyone grew 3-5cm between 17-20.

That is totally incorrect-Joel Hocking & Valerie Stoimenov came from Essendon the year before last to take over the fitness section of our club. Bohden stayed on as Athletic coach.

List as per mfc site-

Football Department

- Joel Hocking – Fitness Manager

- Adam Paulo – Assistant Fitness Coach

- Valeri Stoimenov – Strength and Conditioning Coach

- Bohdan Babijczuk – Athletic Development Coach

Did you just say I was "totally incorrect" in saying that Bohdan is not our head of fitness then publish a list making it quite clear that Joel Hocking is our head of fitness accompanied by a description of when Joel took over that role??

Did you have a stroke??

im so fricken over these injuries. The fitness dude, Bohdan something has the worst history in the afl when it comes to injuries. Even if he is just the unluckiest guy, i dont understand why we would pick him up. We are now the 3rd club he's been to where injuries have ruined a teams season.

Bohdan Babiczuk hasn't been our head of fitness for years.

Sounds like LJ has handed off a couple in the goalsquare on top of his 3. Exciting stuff.

Fitzpatrick & Bail busy early.

As an aside, there are seriously two "Tigers" teams in the VFL?? That's pretty ridiculous.

Fitzpatrick's got the job as #1 ruckman.

Not sure about one of these commentators, pretty much unintelligible.

Game hasn't started.

That's not what happened. Before anybody blows up about us not having unfettered access to our new facilities - Real Story

Darling's only 190cm. Is that really a 'tall'?? Does anybody here consider Cam Bruce as a 'tall'??

This week's injury report probably puts some dents in most, if not all, of the suggested changes here.

Junior is another 2-3 away, Gysberts isn't fit, and the report gave me no confidence whatsoever in Sylvia being right to return.

Coming off that shocking performance it's natural to suggest there would be 2-3 changes, but who at Casey has earned a promotion???

Depends whether you like watching spirited, inspiring comebacks.

If you do, stick to Mighty Ducks, Fox Sports is showing a team show up for 15 minutes of a contest and get flogged by 8 goals.

Yup.

Watching Might ducks on 7two. Should I turn it back?

Depends whether you like watching spirited, inspiring comebacks.

If you do, stick to Mighty Ducks, Fox Sports is showing a team show up for 15 minutes of a contest and get flogged by 8 goals.

But hang on isnt Petterd from the GC and that another poster had it on good authority that he was going to GC???

Just shows the stupidity of those posters pandering to speculation without the facts.

Anyway its interesting he has decided to stay.

Perhaps Ricky just hasn't heard yet that Guy McKenna bought a house on the GC last week which is going to be for Gary Ablett.

Doesn't losing highly paid players free up cap space on its own???

Also, the AFL's proposal isn't entirely subjective.